Posters

Penetrating eye injuries in paediatric population: an epidemiological study and visual outcome

Poster Details

First Author: K. Bajracharya NEPAL

Co Author(s):    S. KC Rai   A. Malla Bhari   H. Thapa   A. Hirachan           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To study the epidemiology and visual outcome of penetrating eye injuries in pediatric population.

Setting:

The study is conducted at Pediatric Ophthalmology department of Shree rana-Ambika Shah Eye hospital, Lumbini Eye Institute, Sidharthanagar-3, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Lumbini, Nepal.

Methods:

This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Lumbini Eye Institute over a period of one year from June 2014 to May 2015. All patients of penetrating eye injuries up to the age of 15 years were included in the study. The demographics of the patient, cause and duration of injury were recorded. The presenting and final best corrected visual acuity, anterior and posterior segment findings were recorded in specially designed proforma.

Results:

A total 127 children presented with penetrating eye injuries in a year. Minimum age was 11 months and maximum 15 years with mean of 7.29 years (SD= ±3.49). Male and female patients were 78% and 22% respectively. Right eye was involved in 54.33% and left eye 45.67%. The most common cause of injury was wooden stick 43.31%. Corneal laceration was found in 80.31%, scleral laceration in 7.87% and corneo-scleral laceration in 11.81%. Seventy four percent were blind at presentation and at discharge 45% were blind. Eleven percent of patients had visual acuity better than 20/60 at presentation 35% after treatment.

Conclusions:

Penetrating eye injury is one of the common causes attending Pediatric Ophthalmology Department. Penetrating eye injury is common in male and majority of trauma is caused by wooden stick. The awareness of ocular trauma and its consequences should be increased to reduce incidence of childhood blindness.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE